Newsletter

Effingham fugitives caught in Savannah

Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a couple wanted on drug charges in Savannah late Friday night.

Holly Skipper, 23, and Joseph Mikell, 24, both of Rincon, were sought following a drug arrest Thursday in Westwood Heights Subdivision.

Deputies went to a home in the 100 block of John Glenn Drive on Thursday to make a probation violation arrest, sheriff’s office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.

While the deputies were at the front door a man, later identified as Andrew Mikell, was overheard talking on a speakerphone with another man, later identified as Joseph Mikell.

Joseph Mikell told Andrew Mikell to not let the police inside until he came and got his drugs, Ehsanipoor said.

“Patrol deputies secured the scene and contacted other ECSO investigators, who obtained a search warrant. Once the search warrant was executed, more than two pounds of marijuana, several firearms and other items used to sell marijuana were discovered,” Ehsanipoor said.

Deputies then arrested Andrew Mikell, 19, of Rincon, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug-related objects.

Skipper and Andrew Mikell have been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Savannah-Chatham Police ECSO assisted in the arrest.

South Carolina man killed in Friday Tybee Island wreck

A 36-year-old South Carolina man was killed on Tybee Island on Friday night when the car he was driving eastbound in the westbound lane of U.S 80 struck a van head-on.

Andrew Paul Bowman of Ravenel, S.C., died at the scene of the wreck near Catalina Drive, said Georgia State Patrol Trooper Chris Cuddington.

The driver of the van was transported to Memorial University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Cuddington said.

Victim of Effingham wreck identified

A Guyton woman killed in a car accident Friday has been identified as Peggy Preveaux, 49.

Initial reports indicate Preveaux was driving a Toyota sedan south on Midland Road when the driver of a semitrailer, Donald Patrick of Alabama, failed to stop at a stop sign at Midland and Blue Jay roads, striking her car, Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.

Preveaux was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident caused the closure of Blue Jay Road for several hours. No other injuries were reported. Charges are pending and the Georgia State Patrol is investigating.

Dean Forest closed to through traffic

Dean Forest Road will be closed to through traffic between U.S. 17 and Interstate 16 through April 8 for construction. Traffic will detour to Chatham Parkway.

Benton Boulevard to be closed next week

A section of Benton Boulevard just south of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway will be closed starting Monday for resurfacing of the road.

The work is expected to be complete by April 6, barring rain or other delays, said Peter Nichols, Chatham County Commission spokesman. Traffic will be detoured to Crossroads Parkway.